There is a wealth of jargon used throughout the reptile world. This is especially true when discussing the different types of reptiles. Learning this vocabulary allows you to better understand articles and what veterinarians, reptile hobbyists and other reptile owners are saying. The following list of terms, while in no way comprehensive, contains some of the terms used to discuss the different types of reptiles.
Amphibian
A cold blooded species that spends part of its life on land and part in the water.
Captive bred
Any reptile that is bred and born in captivity to captive parents.
Chelonian
Turtles and tortoises.
Constrictor
A type of snake that kills its prey by squeezing (constricting) it by coiling its body around it.
Invertebrates
Animals such as tarantulas and hermit crabs that lack a backbone.
Reptile
A cold blooded species in the class Reptilia.
Terrapin
A fresh water tortoise.
Tortoise
A chelonian that lives on land and eats a primarily herbivorous diet.
Turtle
A chelonian that is aquatic or semi-aquatic and eats a carnivorous or omnivorous diet.
Wild caught
Any herp that is caught in the wild and then sold into captivity as a pet.
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